Amorous (The Lincoln Series Book 1) Read online

  Amorous

  SUSAN M. BAER

  Amorous

  Copyright © 2015 by Susan M. Baer

  Published:

  Cover Photo: iStock by Getty Images

  ISBN: 978-0-9961503-2-3

  Publisher: Susan M. Baer

  eBooks are not transferable,

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. You may not

  circulate this book in any format. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, places or actual events is entirely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  WARNING: This book contains adult language and content. It is not intended for persons under the age of eighteen (18).

  Find out more about Susan Baer and her upcoming books online at www.susanbaerauthor.com

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to all my friends and family who have given me their love, support, and time. Without them this book would not be possible. Special thanks to my loving husband, Robert, who was willing to argue with me when necessary and tolerating my pouting when I had to admit he was right. And last but not least, to my Aunt Bevy who taught me everything I know about the subject matter. LOL

  Chapter 1

  Marie could feel the cold bricks of the wall at her back. The chill was a welcomed relief to the heat racing through her blood. Jake held her captive as he pressed his body into hers and claimed her lips with the strength of a conquering warrior. The slight pain as he gripped her hair and pulled her head back to nibble his way down her neck only heightened her arousal.

  He slid his hand up under the front of her sweater and—

  “Marie? Are you listening to me?”

  She sighed, her fantasy disintegrated when Janet’s voice finally reached her. “Sorry, Jan, I was distracted for a minute.”

  “Really? I couldn’t tell.”

  Marie rolled her eyes. She knew what was coming. She’d heard it a thousand times.

  Janet continued. “You need to get him out of your head.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about Jake, I was thinking about my interview at Central Valley Monday morning. You know how important that job is to me.”

  “You’re a big fat liar. How many times do I have to tell you nothing good can come from any kind of involvement with Jake? Besides what I’m trying to tell you is much more interesting.”

  Marie smiled at that. Janet was right. Getting the dirt from her best friend on the stuck up snobs they went to college with was delightful. She leaned forward onto the table so she could hear better over the noisy crowd.

  “Now, how far back do I need to go? Did you get the bit about Rachel catching her latest boy toy cheating with her sister?”

  Janet’s phone chirped and she pulled it out to check the caller ID. “Damn. I have to take this. Don’t go anywhere I’ll be right back.

  Becker Realty, this is Janet.”

  Marie watched Janet head for the door, no doubt the crowd at Parillo’s was a bit too loud for a business call. Friday nights were always packed and this one was no exception.

  Despite the wall to wall flesh moving together in various stages of the mating ritual, she was able to steal several glimpses of Jake from across the bar. She frowned. It was quite exhausting when she thought about it. Not only did she have to keep Jake from catching her, she had to keep Janet from noticing as well. She wasn’t always successful at either.

  Janet had made it quite plain to her that Jake wasn’t worth the air he breathed, so maybe it was the rush of doing something forbidden that drew her to him. Or maybe he was just too damned hot to ignore.

  She blinked slowly and tried to recall her fantasy but every whoop and holler from the people around her kept jolting her back to reality. Without the protection of Janet’s presence her senses were too jittery to let her completely block out the world. Getting caught fantasizing by Janet was one thing, getting caught by a stranger was quite another.

  The intoxicating scent of a masculine cologne reached her and she inhaled deeply. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. She could almost feel the heat of Jake’s body as she conjured an image of him backing her to the wall of her apartment just inside the door.

  He hoisted her up and wrapped her legs around his hips. He pressed her against the wall and yanked her blouse open, buttons flew and material rent as he claimed her mouth again.

  The scent of the cologne got stronger and she inhaled slowly.

  She whispered, “I wonder if that’s what he smells like?”

  “You could move a little closer and find out.”

  Marie jumped to her feet and grabbed the chair as it teetered on two legs. She could feel her heart beating so hard she was sure he could see it thumping against her chest.

  Jake was seated at her table next to where she had been sitting, his forearms resting on the polished wood while he caressed a bottle of beer with his fingertips. A cocky smile graced his lips as he dropped his gaze momentarily to her breasts.

  “I figured since you’ve been staring at me most of the night, and every other night you’re in here, that it was time I introduced myself.”

  “Hi…Jake.”

  “I’m impressed.” He leaned back. “Janet has actually used my name instead of some other unflattering descriptive. She must be mellowing with age. Perhaps she has decided she can keep her youthful looks longer if she scowls less.”

  Marie swallowed the nervous lump growing in her throat. Obviously Jake knew exactly how Janet felt about him.

  He laughed softly. “Why don’t you sit down, Marie. I’m not nearly as repulsive as Janet thinks I am. After all, my scent is obviously appealing to you.”

  She sat back down and tried to slow her racing heart. She knew she looked like an excited school girl with the blush she could feel heating her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak and suddenly had nothing to say.

  Jake tapped his ring against the bottle and drew her attention to his right hand. He caressed the glass with sensual strokes and she suppressed a whimper. She could almost feel his touch on her body as she watched his fingers glide through the condensation. He cleared his throat and she looked up.

  “Janet and I have a…difference of opinion. So I’m sure she has painted quite an ugly picture of me. But I can assure you I couldn’t possibly live up to the monster she has created.”

  Marie watched as he continued to glide his fingers through the sweat on the bottle and her mouth went dry. She swallowed in a feeble attempt to rehydrate her tongue and licked her lips. She looked up when he leaned close to her.

  “But judging by the way you look at me,
you haven’t been listening to her… Have you?”

  She shivered with excitement and fought the urge to close the distance between them. She wanted him to kiss her more than she wanted to live another day. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop after one kiss and throwing herself at him in the middle of a crowded bar was a humiliation she was certain she would rather live without.

  Jake was casting a spell she was more than willing to be caught under. But right now she needed to keep her head clear. She wanted him to know how smart she was. So…what was he saying again?

  Oh yeah, he was talking about Janet. And he was right. Janet had tried everything to convince Marie he was the wrong man for her, yet something inside her just wasn’t getting the message. She didn’t keep any secrets from Janet so her attraction to Jake was a subject they disagreed on. She didn’t always take Janet’s advice despite the fact that she was rarely wrong. Marie believed in making her own mistakes, at least that’s what she kept telling herself. And Janet wasn’t here right now, Jake was, so she wasn’t about to say or do anything to make him go away.

  She took a deep breath and tried to disguise it by shifting in her seat, her heart rate had leveled off slightly.

  Jake leaned back in the seat and drummed his fingers on the table. “Or perhaps you’re the type who likes to make up your own mind.”

  “You could say that.”

  “I just did.” He licked his bottom lip and he let his gaze roam her body before he looked at her eyes again. “I’d like to take you to dinner tomorrow night, Marie. I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “What?”

  “I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow night. Be ready by six.”

  Marie was speechless. He just asked her out to dinner, she wasn’t prepared for that. What should she say? Should she play hard to get or accept graciously? Did he like women who were decisive and strong or carefree and flexible?

  She could see his lips moving but she couldn’t hear him over the ringing in her ears and the noise of the crowd. She leaned forward, rested her chin on her hand, and watched for any sign that he was expecting a response from her.

  Her thoughts started to wander and another fantasy took shape in her mind. She blinked to clear her vision and tried to refocus on the here and now. The two began to merge and suddenly she wasn’t sure what was real anymore.

  Marie discreetly pinched her thigh to see if she was stuck in a fantasy. The sharp pain told her she could believe what she was seeing. Plus Jake’s mouth was still moving and her fantasies rarely included talking, she didn’t see the point in dialogue.

  Jake stopped talking and drummed his fingers on the table. He looked almost…bored.

  She dropped her hand to the table and sat up straight. Oh God! What should she say? What did he say? The gorgeous guys never talked to her unless she was with the beautiful woman they were interested in. And Jake was definitely in the gorgeous category. Maybe she could reply with a question and make it look like she was simply changing the subject.

  He had plenty of beautiful women hanging around and on him every time she saw him, but she had no idea what they talked about. Actually, she never saw him talk to them. He only spoke to the men. Shit! He was just screwing with her because she had been staring at him like a stupid little girl with a crush. Maybe he’d lost a bet or his friends had dared him to come over to her table. She glanced in the direction of his friends but none of them were looking at her or Jake.

  He leaned closer to her. “Nice of you to join me but I should be moving along. The Ice Queen will be back any minute.” He slid a piece of paper to her. “I’ll need your address.”

  Her hand shook as she wrote. She still wasn’t sure if he was serious but she wanted this too much to say no. The paper quivered when she handed it to him. All she could do was smile and blush. Whether this was a joke or not Jake knew she had been fantasizing about him so either way she’d just made a fool of herself.

  At least he didn’t laugh at you. He just looked bored as hell. Hopefully he won’t be that bored with you tomorrow night.

  Jake folded the paper and slid it in the pocket of his shirt. He looked over her shoulder and frowned, then winked at her as he got up to leave.

  “See you tomorrow.”

  Marie watched him walk away, focusing on his backside. Lord he was sexy. She was licking her dry lips when a voice spoke from behind her.

  “What the hell did he want?” Janet plopped down into her seat.

  “He just asked me out to dinner.” Marie was smiling so hard her jaw ached.

  “And you said no, right?”

  “Sure. The gorgeous guy I’ve been lusting after just asked me out to dinner and the only logical thing to do is turn him down.”

  “We’re talking about Jake, here. Not some nice, gorgeous guy you’ve been lusting after. Please tell me you said no.”

  “Why should I? For once the really cute guy asked me out instead of you or my sister. I’m entitled to have some fun too.”

  “Going out with Jake will not be fun. I can guarantee that.”

  Marie’s shoulders slumped and she sat back into her chair. “Have you ever been out with him?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then you don’t know what he’s like on a date.”

  “I know him, Marie. You’re going to regret it.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. But he said he was taking me to dinner and I’m going.”

  Janet smirked. “So he didn’t really ask you out. He told you he was taking you out, didn’t he?”

  Marie opened her mouth and hesitated. ‘Shit!’ “The point is he’s taking me to dinner.”

  “You could always tell him you changed your mind.”

  “Sorry.”

  Janet sighed. “You will be.”

  ****

  Marie stood in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom chewing on her lower lip. She couldn’t decide which outfit to wear. The little black dress showed off her figure nicely with a large scoop neckline, but it was a little too short for her comfort. The blue one was the right length but its plunging neckline was too low cut for a first date. She wanted to get his attention not make him think he had to pay her at the end of the night. She held both dresses up and looked at Janet’s reflection in the mirror.

  “Are these sexy or do they make me look too easy?”

  “It doesn’t really matter, Marie. He’s a pig. You could wrap yourself in a brown paper bag for all he cares.” Janet kept her eyes on the latest issue of People magazine she had been reading. “Actually, I think a paper bag would be less trouble, then you could just burn it after your date and you won’t be out one of your dresses.”

  Marie turned to her best friend and sighed. “What is your problem with Jake anyway? He’s gorgeous, sexy as hell, and he looks at me with lust in his eyes not those walking sticks that hang all over him.”

  She headed back to her closet to look for another dress to try on.

  She heard Janet slap the magazine down on the bed. “He’s a pig, Marie. He pays attention to you because you’re not hanging all over him. I’ve known him a long time and he treats people like possessions, especially women. Once he has you, he’ll toss you away like he does to everyone else.”

  “He doesn’t toss away his friends that are always with him.”

  “That’s because he’s still using them. He pretends they’re friends so he can fool himself into thinking he’s a nice person, and they hang around him because he buys all the drinks.”

  “But they always look like they’re having so much fun. And Sophia told me he always gives her a big tip when she waits on his table.”

  “That’s because he can’t have her, he’s trying to buy her.”

  “Oh that’s ridiculous he doesn’t need to buy anyone.” She looked over her shoulder and watched Janet roll her eyes then she pulled an orange, low cut sundress out and held it up to her shoulders. She twirled toward Janet. “What about his one? It’s sexy and innocent all at once don’
t you think?”

  Janet stood with a sigh and walked to Marie. She turned her around to face the mirror and looked over her shoulder. “I really wish you would reconsider. He doesn’t deserve you…he’s going to hurt you, honey.”

  “Jan, you don’t understand, I can’t pass up this chance. I’ve always been second best. My sister was prettier and she always got the good looking guys while I got the friend who couldn’t get his own date.” She turned around to face her. “And all the guys that flirt with you practically trample me trying to get closer to you. This is my chance at the best looking guy.”

  “Oh, please. Those guys trying to get to me are usually drunk and stupid. The sober ones are staring at you. They’re just too shy to make the first move.”

  “Exactly. The friend who can’t get his own date.”

  “Ugh!” Janet hugged her then went to the closet to pull out another dress. “Well if you’re going to insist on going on this train wreck of a date, wear this one. That sundress is too good for the likes of Jake.”

  Janet spun around and presented her with the little black dress. “Put this one on and don’t waste a lot of time getting ready. It won’t be worth the effort.”

  Marie took the dress from her friend and sighed.

  Janet grabbed her purse and turned to leave. “Don’t let him hurt you, Marie. I’ll be at Parillo’s if you need me.”

  Marie was silent as she watched her friend walk out. When she heard her apartment door close she turned back to her mirror, held up the dress and smiled. “You’ll see Jan, it’ll be wonderful. I’m not like the others.” Her smile broadened. “He’s gonna love me.”

  Chapter 2

  Marie fixed her hair and makeup as she tried to imagine how the night was going to go. She didn’t know where they were going for dinner but she was sure she’d love it.

  A shiver of anticipation ran up her spine at the thought of being close to Jake. Every time she saw him she couldn’t help but slip into a fantasy that starred an attentive, caring man who liked to dominate the intimate part of their relationship. He always looked at her with hunger in his eyes and she knew the physical attraction was definitely there. Hopefully the real Jake was just as loving and attentive as her dream Jake.